Training of IT Professionals - Research Paper Example

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY goes here] [Your goes here] [Due the paper] Information technology refers to the use of computer systems to store and retrieve data or information. In this paper, the researcher discussed in detail what information technology actually is and what are the role and responsibilities of an information technology professional. The researcher also explored various sources to gather information about the education and salary of an information technology professional, as well as the training that an information technology professional needs to become skilled in his/her respective field. The researcher also studies the prognosis for future employment and advancement opportunities for people related to the field of information technology. The results of the research showed that information technology is an ever-growing professional field which has increased the demand of IT professionals all over the world. Information Technology Information technology is one of the most progressive professional fields of the present world. It mainly refers to the use of computer systems and networks for storing, processing, and retrieving data or information required to run different business processes. “It defines an industry that uses computers, networking, software programming, and other equipment and processes to store, process, retrieve, transmit, and protect information” (Salaam). Earlier, the use of the term ‘Information Technology’ was limited to banks and hospitals where employees needed to store and retrieve information on regular basis to perform different activities. With the increase in the use of information technology in every field of life, the need of information technology professionals also rose at a great pace. Today, one can observe that almost every university of the world offers different course related to information technology and more and more people are getting admission in those courses to become information technology experts. In this paper, we will discuss some major factors related to this field in order to get a better understanding of information technology. Education of Information Technology (IT) Professionals Basic education for all IT professionals is almost same, which is graduation in computer sciences. However, specialization courses may differ for each field of study. For example, some people select computer programming courses as their majors, whereas some people opt for software engineering. People who want to establish their careers in computer programming usually do Bachelors in Computer Sciences as this course contains all necessary subjects related to computer programming. On the other hand, people who want to become software engineers usually do Bachelors in Software Engineering which contain all subjects related to system engineering, network design, and software management. In both cases, the degree is a four-year honors degree which is equivalent to a Masters degree. “Information technology specialists complete a four-year bachelors degree program in areas such as computer science, computer engineering or management information systems” (King). Many private companies prefer to give jobs to such candidates who are just skilled in computer programming or software development regardless of whether they have the four-year degree or not. Such candidates usually do diplomas or short courses related to computer programming. However, such people cannot get jobs in government organizations. As Michael states, “the fact is that graduates with computer science degrees are currently among the most in-demand and sought-after job applicants”. Training of IT Professionals As the field of information technology is one of the fastest growing fields in the world, IT professionals need to undergo regular training in order to remain up-to-date with new knowledge and innovations regarding information technology. “IT professionals need to undergo ITIL training in order to develop proficiency in IT management services” (Arora). Even the professionals doing high level jobs need to undergo training sessions at least once a year to get fresh knowledge. The reason is that new technologies, concepts, and development in existing programming languages occur regularly with the advancement ion the field of information technology because of which IT professionals need to remain up-to-date with all sort of new knowledge in order to perform their job related functions effectively. Therefore, we can say that training programs play a key role in professional success of an IT professional. Typical Duties of IT Professionals IT professionals perform a large number of jobs related top their respective fields. A network administrator has different tasks to perform whereas a computer programmer has a different set of tasks to perform. “Network administrators are professionals who are charged with the responsibility of maintaining a computer network” (Tatum). On the other hand, some main job duties of a computer programmer include correcting errors, developing computer programs, and compiling documentations (McGee). However, some of the main duties of IT professionals include computer system management, system programming, system analysis, computer engineering, hardware and software maintenance, software development, network development and management, database management, data storage and retrieval, and information system management. Potential Salaries of IT Professionals Salaries of IT experts vary on the basis of nature of job, field of specialization, and professional experience. However, the overall research about their salaries suggests that IT is one of the highly compensated professions of the world. “The lower end of the salary range runs at $41,700 per year, and the upper end can reach up to $110,000 per year, with most earning somewhere between $54,000 and $91,000 per year” (Shepherd). The average annual salary of a database administrator is around $68,000. Similarly, the average annual salary of a network administrator is around $63,000. The average annual salary of a system analyst is around $78,000. And the average annual salary of a software engineer is around $82,000. Some companies even pay a six-figure salary to well-qualified and experienced software engineers. Operating system managers get around $93,000 per year. Refer to table 1 for salary details. Profession Average Annual Salary Network Administrator $60000 - $65000 Database Administrator $65000 - $70000 System Analyst $75000 - $80000 Software Engineer $80000 - $85000 Operating System Manager $90000 - $95000 Table 1-Salary Details Future Employment and Advancement Chances of promotion are always there for IT professionals because of ever-increasing demand of IT professionals all over the world. IT professionals get more advancement opportunities than any other professional in the world. Companies view IT professionals as eye candies and offer high salary packages, as well as promotions to retain them. Conclusion Summing it up, information technology is an ever-growing professional field increasing the demand of IT professionals all over the world. IT professionals are highly qualified individuals who are related to computerized development and management of any company or organization. IT professionals get high salary packages based on their qualification and proficiency. They undergo training sessions to remain up-to-date with current knowledge. Moreover, they have high chances of job promotion and career advancement because of their ever-increasing demand in almost every organization. Works Cited Arora, Ron. The Basics Of ITIL Training. Ezinearticles.com, 07 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. King, YaShekia. Information Technology Job Duties. Ehow.com, n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. McGee, Renata. Computer Programming – Job Duties and Skill Requirements. Articlesbase.com, 27 May 2011. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. Michael, Martin. Different Careers With Computer Degrees. Ezinearticles.com, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. Salaam, Laila. What Is Information Technology?. Wisegeek.com, 11 Jul. 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. Shepherd, Nick. IT Technician Salary Information. Ezinearticles.com, 09 Jul. 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. Tatum, Malcolm. What is a Network Administrator?. Wisegeek.com, 28 May 2012. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. Read More